OPEN ACCESS
Reciprocally supported element (RSE) lattice honeycomb dome structures have the ability to support considerable loading via their composition of interconnected closed circuits of elements. Distinctively, these dome structures use only three elements in each circuit. To understand the structural behaviour of these RSE lattice domes, a structural modelling investigation was carried out. Global linear elas- tic analysis was considered where the behaviour of the structure under the application of loading on selected elements was monitored. The aim of the modelling was to investigate the influencing factors to monitor for model calibration as well as to compare predicted structural behaviour output with future monitored behaviour in laboratory experiments involving the manufacture and construction of an RSE lattice honeycomb dome structure. The creation of the selected RSE honeycomb lattice structures together with the structural modelling findings are presented and discussed. Predicted displacements and stresses were compared under varying boundary support conditions. The von Mises ductile material failure criterion showing the onset of local yielding is considered.
honeycomb domes, reciprocally supported elements, space structures, structural behaviour, structural modelling
[1] Rizzuto, J.P., The structural behaviour of mutually supported elements in space struc-tures. PhD theses, Coventry University, 2005.
[2] Baverel, O., Nexorades: A family of interwoven space structures. PhD theses, Univer-sity of Surrey, 2000.
[3] Nooshin, H. & Disney, P., Formex configuration processing II. International Journal of Space Structures, 16(1), pp. 1–56, 2001. http://dx.doi.org/10.1260/0266351011495313
[4] Rhinoceros Training Manual v.4.0, Robert McNeal & Associates, 2006.
[5] Rizzuto, J.P., Rotated mutually supported elements in truncated icosahedric domes. Journal of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures, 48(1), pp. 3−17, 2007.
[6] Rizzuto, J.P. & Hulse, R., Dodecahedric mutually supported element space struc-ture: experimental investigation. International Journal of Space Structures, 22(2), pp. 107−121, 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1260/026635107781482640
[7] OASYS GSA Help Guide, GSA 8.7, London, England, 2016.
[8] Hannah, J. & Hillier, M.J., Applied Mechanics, 3rd edn., Longman Scientific & Techni-cal, 1995.
[9] Rizzuto, J.P. & Popovic Larsen, O., Connection systems in reciprocal frames and mutu-ally supported elements space structure networks. International Journal of Space Struc-tures, 25(4), pp. 243−256, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1260/0266-3511.25.4.243
[10] Rizzuto, J.P., Eccentricity orientation of bolted connections in space structure configu-rations using reciprocally supported elements. Journal of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures, 55(1), pp. 49−62, 2014.
[11] Rizzuto, J.P., Dodecahedric mutually supported element space structure: numerical modelling. Journal of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures, 49(1), pp. 3–18, 2008.